Charlestown Nevis (October 13, 2004) - In celebration of the Month of the Elderly, being observed in October, senior citizens from St. Kitts journey to Nevis Wednesday, where they joined their counterparts for a guided tour of the island and a picnic on Pinney’s Beach.
According to Mrs Ann Wigley, Supervisor for Community and Social Services on St. Kitts, one hundred seniors, twelve members of her staff and a cameraman from the ZIZ National Television, arrived on Nevis in the morning where they were met by the Minister of Health, Gender and Social Affairs, the Hon Mrs Jean Harris.
They were joined by 45 Nevisian senior citizens and were taken of a guided tour of the island and to all places of interest. They also had the chance to visit two homes for the elderly, where they met the shut-ins. Their tour ended at the Vance Amory International Airport in New Castle.
“There are12 persons who came up with us and this was the first time they are visiting Nevis and they are not young people,” observed Mrs Wigley. “There are others who had not been in Nevis for long period some going as far back as twenty years. It was a very good gesture to have them come across and I do not think they will ever forget this day.”
The oldest person on the tour was 95-year old Mr John Richardson from Saddlers. Other senior ages were 93, 92, 89 and 88. The picnic was held at the Sunshine’s Bar and Grill where the owner, Mr Llewellyn Caines, formerly of St Paul’s in St. Kitts, allowed them to use facilities at his world-famous outfit.
Minister Harris who later joined them at Sunshine’s Bar and Grill said that she was grateful to see the Federation’s senior citizens come together, adding: “We want to let them know how much we appreciate them.”
Mrs Harris, who was accompanied by the director of Gender and Social Services, Mrs Cherril Barrett-Field, commented that the contribution made by the senior citizens to their homes, the societies, communities, their islands and the Federation as a whole was commendable and hence the treatment accorded to them.
“Their coming together spells a lot for us, because indeed we see their happy faces, and some of them we haven’t seen for quite some time,” the minister noted. “I have personally worked on St. Kitts and I was able to come back in contact with some that I met a long time ago and I am really happy to be with them here today.”
